5 Things People with Organized Drawers Always Have, According to Pro Organizers

Imagine this: You walk into your home and you need a couple of things from the kitchen, another from the bathroom, and one more from your bedroom. You know precisely where all four items are, down to what’s on their left and right, and could lead even a perfect stranger to them. That is what it’s like to have organized drawers. It’s something to aspire for, and now you have the exact blueprint for how to make it happen.

Below, five things people with organized drawers always have, according to professional organizer.

It makes sense that organized drawers require drawer organizers. Sumner Canfield, director of product development at The Home Edit, says that “bins or dividers are the baseline products that keep a drawer in good shape. The next level is museum gel to keep bins in place, a label maker, and — always — a measuring tape.” According to Mary Davis, owner and founder of In Good Order, dividers work well for clothing and larger items, while bins are great for corralling smaller items by type. 

Kenzie Harkey, professional organizer and founder of Simply Dare, likes to use these bamboo drawer organizers for junk drawers — or as she calls them, utility drawers. They come in all different sizes, and even better, they’re stackable. Pro tip: Measure the drawers you want to organize, then take advantage of the grid table at your local Container Store to put the combination that makes the most sense for your space. 

It can be annoyingly easy for drawers to get dirty, especially in bathrooms or kitchens. This is why Allison Flinn, founder of Reclaim Professional Organizing, recommends emptying your drawers seasonally, vacuuming, and wiping them down (this mini vacuum is a game-changer, by the way). “This is also a great time to evaluate the contents of the drawers, toss anything broken, and donate anything no longer used,” she advises.

You know how the saying goes: A place for everything and everything in its place. People with organized drawers always have a dedicated spot for their stuff. “If items live where it makes sense for you and the things you use the most are the easiest to get to, you have a functional system that makes it easy to stay organized,” Davis explains.

Some examples from Flinn include:

• An easily accessible “everyday drawer” in the bathroom with the products you use every morning and/or night.
• Garments in your dresser are organized by type and file folded to maximize space, visibility, and accessibility.
• Items you need to cook with, such as spices and utensils, are next to the stove in the kitchen.

Don’t put it down, put it away! Instead of taking something from a drawer, using it, and then placing it somewhere random, put it where it belongs. “It’s a simple act, but most of us get out of this habit, leading to clutter on surfaces like countertops,” Harkey explains. Establishing a quick tidying routine at the end of the day, she adds, can also ensure items are returned to their homes.

Canfield is a fan of doing mini edits, so your drawers never get out of control and new items are worked in thoughtfully instead of being tossed in. “People with organized drawers are cutthroat about what stays and what goes,” Canfield emphasizes. “Drawers are precious real estate and cuts have to be made!” Harkey recommends dedicating one Saturday every quarter to going through your home and editing what you don’t want anymore. “This way, you’ll prevent the overwhelm that occurs when we put decluttering off for months or years, which can cause us to keep delaying it,” she explains.

It doesn’t matter how much you organize if you still have too much stuff. “Maintaining organization in your home has every bit to do with being intentional with your space and what you bring in,” says Harkey. “If you want to have organized drawers, you have to understand your space and when it’s maxed out, so you don’t accidentally clutter it with items you don’t need or use.”

Plus, the more you declutter, the more you’ll want to declutter. There’s a certain rush that comes with creating space for all of your belongings to spread out, narrowed down to your very favorite and most useful things.